Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1887-07-29

who, he claims, are equally clever
and ingenious with the Americans,
can run even with them, if not beat
them in the race.
1t is interesting for us to note the
method in which Mr.. Keith Classics
the advantages which we enjoy in
the United States, and sets over
against them the corresponding linn
itations Of Great Britain. 1t is often
of great value to see ourselves as
others see us. Mr.. Keith gives
prominence to the encouragement
given here to invention by the Gov
eminent in our liberal patent laws,
and by the people in their quick APP
probation of novel implements and
machinery. In Great Britain in
vention is practically discouraged
by the government, owing to the
fact that the fees for the patents are
twenty-five times as great for pro-
lection for period three years
shorter than in the United States.
The cost of suits under the patent
laws in Great Britain is excessive,
and often destructive of justice.
Referring to the subject of taxa
ton, the writer shows the condition
in the United States to be more fav-
orable than in Great Britain. Men
tioning our internal taxes he says:
CAT present the Americans pay no
imperial tax whatever, the whole
government and civil service expen-
diture being paid out Of the import
duties; there are no church rates IN
any shape or form, there being
no established church Though it is
a thoroughly Protestant and Chris
tian country,the people more church
going and the ministers of religion
better paid than in this country;
the local taxes are much less in pro-
portion than they are in this coun-
try, there being nothing like the
grinding poverty and misery we
have here"
In Great Britain the public groans
under imperial taxation and cost of
sustaining royalty, while many i'm
portant industries are borne down
by the dead weight imposed by the
British Government.
In the United States Mr.. Keith
remarks that every child is thor
oughly educated at the expense of
the nation, and education is there
fore free; in fact, it is compulsory.
Mr.. Keith goes too far concerning
the general application Of the com
pulsory principle, which exists in
this country only in a few States.
He is right in principle that it should
be of general application. In great
Britain poor people try every ex-
pedient to cut short the school term
of their children in order to get
their help in supporting their fam
lilies. The balance in the number
and excellence of common schools
is much in favor of this country.
In the local government Mr.
Keith finds superiority in the Am.
erican system, and charges that out.
side of London Great Britain is wo.
fully deficient. His language runs
thus: "No alteration of a railway
not even the widening or deviation
of a road or stream in country ir
the heart or at either extremity oil
either England, Scotland or Ireland
nor any other petty local matter Of
this nature, can be accomplished
without a previous application tc
Parliament in London for permission
to carry on the work." He pleads
strongly for decentralization and fol-
following the successful example Of
the United States and the colonies
This will require local parliament'
in England, Scotland, Wales anc
Ireland, and this is the logic of the
appeal for home rule.
In the matter of agriculture, al
points seem to be in favor of the
United States, and Mr.. Keitf
mournfully asks: GLOW is it pos
slble that the farmers of Great
Britain can continue to pay heavy
rents, in many cases under unjust
restriction, and compete with tn,
American farmers, who, under more
favorable climate conditions, prac
tically sit rent free? British lane
laws have much to answer for, anG
the sooner they are put on a bette,